Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Tegan is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Turley. The line-up encompasses some of the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. The wines made at Sandlands include Syrah, Trousseau, Carignane, Mataro, Chenin Blanc and at long last a Zinfandel from Kirschenmann Vineyard.
Sourced from the Oakley Road Vineyard that dates back to the 1920’s.
Bright crimson in color. 14.2% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, licorice, baking spices and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Bursting with bright, juicy fruits. Bing cherry, raspberry liqueur, wild strawberry and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and supple. The first Contra Costa Zinfandel from Sandlands and wine is flat out delicious. Best over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 94 points.
The 2024 version of this wine was recently released at the bargain price of $30.
Seriously consider signing up for the Sandlands mailing list. Tegan has a model of unique wines at extremely fair prices from overlooked vineyards. What more can you ask for?